20-year-old becomes first positive drug test in English professional rugby since 2011

A 20-year-old South African has become the first professional player to fail a drugs test in English professional rugby in seven years.

Brandon Staples of Yorkshire Carnegie has been suspended for a period of four years from all sport following the decision of an independent national anti-doping panel.

Staples tested positive for the presence of three steroids including Dehydrochloromethyl-Testosterone, Metandienone and Stanozolol.

The 20 year-old South African was tested after a training session on 9 August 2017 at his club and his urine sample returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF).

Staples claimed the AAF was a result of consuming a nutritional drink in South Africa while on holiday in May 2017.

Staples maintained that he wasn't training at the time and that he consumed the protein shake in the belief that it was free from banned substances.

The period of ineligibility has been applied from 7 September 2017 - the date of the provisional suspension – until 6 September 2021.

Stephen Watkins, RFU Anti-Doping and Illicit Drugs Programme Manager added: “This is the first failed test for a performance enhancing substance in English professional rugby since 2011 and a reminder to all that we cannot be complacent in our efforts to keep rugby a clean sport.

“Education and deterrence remain core pillars to our anti-doping strategy and we must ensure we continue to educate players of the risks involved in supplementation. Ultimately individuals are responsible for what they put into their bodies and this case highlights what can happen if a player is not vigilant.”

The case also went to an appeal panel which upheld the original decision.

The looseforward had his contract terminated following the original Anti-Doping Tribunal on 30th November 2017.

During the investigation process, Staples was offered support from the club.

Brandon-Staples

Commenting on the outcome on the Yorshire Carnegie website, Gary Hetherington, the club's Chief Executive said, “We are naturally very disappointed with the actions of Brandon Staples, who has let himself and everyone at the club down and the four-year suspension sends a stark warning to all professional sportspeople.”

Staples made his debut for Yorkshire Carnegie in the 2016-17 season as a replacement against Bedford Blues in the British & Irish Cup before making his first start at the Dragons Premiership Select, impressing with a try down in Wales. He has not featured for Yorkshire Carnegie this season.

Born in Durban, South Africa, Brandon attended the prestigious Glenwood Boys School, which has produced over 150 international sportsmen, including seven rugby Springboks in the last century.

The big No.8 represented KwaZulu-Natal at under-13 and under-16 level before coming to England in 2014 as an exchange student. He attended Northumbria University and played at Darlington Mowden Park last season on dual registration.

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